Home Is Where The Heart(h) Is

Chapter 25: The Last War

 Percy had no idea how Gaia had managed to teleport her entire army from Hades-knows-where, assuming she had used the tunnel method, without causing a 9.0 earthquake. As he reached the summit of Half-blood Hill, overlooking the woods below where the sounds were coming from, his heart skipped a beat, and his eyes practically fell from his head.

He had seen the army before; the advance group sent here in the first battle, yet that was nothing compared to the mind-blowingly massive size of this one. Legions upon legions of all sorts of monsters, some of them clad to the bone in armour and weaponry, and others completely vulnerable. There were horrific mutations of demons, some that walked on two or more legs, some that soared above on leathery wings, wielding either their natural weapons or bony swords and shields. He recognised certain species of creatures from the Titan War, like empousai, dracaenae warriors or monstrous cyclops, yet they felt inferior compared to their demonic brethren. Aside from them, earthen golems the height of a double-deckered bus gazed up at him facelessly, humming as though they were in a mantra. Percy assumed they were minor creations of Gaia.

The Giants towered over them, blocking the light from the noon sun. Percy saw Orion grinning at him, his taut bow pointed directly at him in mockery. His chest winced slightly. Besides him, he saw a Giant with no mouth and empty eye sockets, two smaller Giants which looked identical, a Giant which carried a trident much like Poseidon's, but it was an unearthly green, and in the centre, much taller than his brethren, their king. Somehow, he remembered his name, maybe from the numerous facts Annabeth bombarded him with. Porphyrion, the king of the Giants and bane to Zeus. He only wielded a spear; not very flashy, but he looked incredibly more menacing than the others.

There were more of them, perhaps two to three, but Percy was already fearful enough to tear his eyes away from them, to his army.

Amazingly, or perhaps with help from Athena, the demigods were assembled in formation, each perfectly armoured, eyes cold with fear yet anger. The Olympians stood behind them, and Percy noticed Dionsyus and Apollo's eyes were closed, energy glowing between their palms. As the magic brightened, a barrier shielding them, just barely visible. The rest of the gods were also armoured and wielding their weapons.

Strangely, Zeus didn't stride forward to take charge, as Percy thought he would. At first he assumed it was fear, which Percy felt was plausible, but he couldn't help but think that something had happened in his absence which had humbled the Olympian.

Then again, Percy himself was amazed that he himself hadn't run off at the sight of so many Giants and monsters. Sure, fear struck him like Zeus' lightning bolts, but a small part of him was also - dare he say it - anxious to fight. Perhaps it was simply the disappointment from the last enemy he'd encountered despite being the last of the five, but he longed to be in a full-scale war which threatened the survival of Olympus and the mortal world. The adrenaline and the time that seemed to slow down when he was one hit away from death. It was...invigorating.

"This is your last chance to surrender to Gaia, demigods and Olympians." Porphyrion spoke, but his mouth was like a hundred speakers, so Percy and the rest of the army could hear him quite clearly. "You fight a losing battle. How will you defeat the earth?"

"How will you shut your mouth?' Percy yelled back. Porphyrion growled.

"So this is the famous Perseus Jackson, the one who has impeded Mother's plans so much. You do not look like much. I cannot see how you could have defeated Mimas."

"He was arrogant. So are you." Percy replied, knowing it was a lie as he recounted the painful experience in his mind.

"You mistake us for the Titans. We are their superiors in strength and intelligence."